Piano & Keyboard All-in-One For Dummies

Introduction 1

Book 1: Piano & Keyboard 101 5

Chapter 1: Warming Up to the Piano and Keyboard 7

Chapter 2: Looking at the Different Keyboard Options 21

Chapter 3: Choosing and Buying Your Keyboard 39

Chapter 4: The Setup and Care of Your Instrument 61

Chapter 5: Getting Comfy at the Keyboard 79

Book 2: Understanding Theory and the Language of Music 93

Chapter 1: Looking at Notes and Beats 95

Chapter 2: Stopping for a Rest 105

Chapter 3: Tempo, Measures, and Time Signatures 111

Chapter 4: Navigating Sheet Music 121

Chapter 5: Varying Beats and Rhythms 133

Book 3: Beginning to Play 149

Chapter 1: Playing a Melody 151

Chapter 2: Working with Scales 167

Chapter 3: Adding the Left Hand 183

Chapter 4: Examining Form: Melody, Harmony, and Song Form 205

Chapter 5: Keys, Key Signatures, and the Circle of Fifths 229

Chapter 6: Building Chords to Accompany Melodies 249

Book 4: Refining Your Technique and Exploring Styles 273

Chapter 1: Adding Effects and Flair to Your Piano Playing 275

Chapter 2: Getting into the Groove 297

Chapter 3: Going Classical 317

Chapter 4: Perusing Popular Genres and Forms 327

Book 5: Exercises: Practice, Practice, Practice 347

Chapter 1: Developing Hand Technique 349

Chapter 2: Extending Your Scales 377

Chapter 3: Improving Finger Coordination and Footwork 399

Chapter 4: Jumping Across the Keyboard 419

Chapter 5: Exercising with Arpeggios and Alternating Hands 433

Chapter 6: Stepping Up to Octaves and Chord Progressions 453

Book 6: Exploring Electronic Keyboard Technology 469

Chapter 1: Choosing Sounds and Effects 471

Chapter 2: Adding Accompaniment, Rhythm Patterns, and Arpeggiation 489

Chapter 3: Recording and Editing Your Sounds 515

Chapter 4: Using Onboard Learning Systems 543

Chapter 5: Playing Along with Recordings and Using Music Software 557

Appendix: Accessing the Audio Tracks 583

Index 591